Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20

les. The works OF Hippocrates. GAlen Celsprs
period In the early part OF the century when the
french writers preiominated, and for the suhse-
ascendant the library has good rpre wH "A
ton"
What was the origin OF the library" Inquired
"for many years" was the reply 'there was
shsa collection OF medical books and journals In
oloe OF the SurSeont.eneral, which was prob
soy commenced ny Surgeon-General lyoball about
,t Az me beginning OF the late war this co.es-
Nvu CoIlssted of about 2so volumes mostly mesii-
cal text books ana journals In 1882 and issri
wniie Dr Hammond Was SUPERINTENDENT about
80 80 Volumes We're added, being chiefly works rclat-
ius "a hlntary medicine and surgery. A catalogue
published In the fan OF ls,i, shows that the library
men, men Contained about 500 volumes The cata-
1900, which chiefly related TO military hygiene.
zeal sfafls anu surrey TO pubic hyglene and med
snd ia6o single Pamphlets cat alocled and since
una1 GATE the growth has been uninterrupted and
TIKI RAPID GROWTH
ina. Is very rapid growth doctor. How DO
you account Tor III" asked the listner. with some
curiosity.
at was stated" replied the doctor. .in the pre.
rae 20 the catalogue issued In 1872 that the need
In the United States for a larger me,IIral library
was shown by the fact that Wen, an Inc puhIic
medical Libraries OF the United States put together
| the references given by the standard English and
German authorities No complete collection OF
the most complete was In private hands and not
then accessible 10 the public Ipon the issuing
OF this catalogue. the medical profession began 10
| take an active Interest In the subject aud the
library began TO grow by accessions from yolun-
tary contributions"
'why should doctors and Others be willing 60
give their books 10 the librar.g WAS the natural
| inquiry.
"Because they know that IL is 60 their advantage
20 have a well-stocked medical library" was tie
response, "wherc al the books ana special articles
In periodicals and pamphlets have their apprpprl-
ate reference In the index catalogue, which l.
being issued This catalogue viii consist OF four
teen volumes OF about Loco pages each. There ara
eight volumes already Issued and we are al work
upon the ninth, which VIII bring the catalogue
down nearly through the letter NJ. The catalogue
Is arranged by subJects-ihe names OF the various
dtseases-and under each subject Is given the
books pamphlets, the period articles. ana. in
fact, every Ihng that Is published that subject
which Is In our library. 1t L. 10 the Interest III
| ply Sicians and medical writers 10 have this rs
complete as possible Tor convenience In nndlng all
the authorities on any one disease. IL Is to such
special libraries That physicians give their books
and pamphlets and the rapid growth Of the library
Is largely due 10 this cause There Is pouring into
| II constant stream OF literature, not only from
| TINS country, but from abroad. Last year there
were some 5000 volumes added 10 the library, or
which over Loo were presented. could mention
NUMBER OF gentlemen who take as much Interest
IN ms library as II II was their own The doctors
an over the country this library 10y consulting
| Tue catalogue, and, finding the books Which they
WISH 10 see, they send the list TO the library and
The DOCKS are forwarded"
BOOKS FROM ABROAD
| 'We also get good many books" continued
| the doctor, Through the medium OF exchanges
| and also by purchase. For instance. a Library In
Boston sends me a package OF 500 books ani PAM
I phtets- retain those that our collection lacks
! and then send some 10 the library nj ST Peters
| burg Tor Instance. The librarian there sends I'm
exchange the medical publications of his own
4 country and others which he NAV have and can
| spare. retain or these what need and send the
remainder 10 the Boston library. This system,
extending II does To all ibrarie, in this country
\ as wei as others, and conpriSin, Individuals In
both countries provides rich accessions 10 the
| library each year. Then Congress makes an ap-
/ L.
| To purchase the new books "a they come out, or
| Old books, which the library may need aud also
enables Us To subscribe 10 Ia. me lical Journals
| aud publicai ions oi The world. or which keep
complete nie. Thus sou see this collection ot
books l. not only noY the largest and most gener-
ally complete Tor a working library IN the world,
| but IL Is destined To b. still more complete and 10
| merit Ia every sense the naIne UI the National
; Medical Library. The next largest medical IL
brary IN TINS country Is that OF the College II
| ia! Il lans In Philadelphia, which contains
DIR. BILLINGS expects Ia have the books arranged
on The shelves 10y the early part oG September.
The museum Will probably not b. entirely moved
into the he" building before The Isl VI November.
I'm a Gatateptsc Trance sor M0utlss.
THE SLEEP OF WOMAN N JoLIHT-FEiGHTENING a
PIoUs Old iRIsHyoMAN.
The case OF Mrs. Herbert, the cltaleptic OF ~.
Josepbs Hospital, at Joliet Ill, appears barile
the medical men. Fortwo hundred and nineteen
days She has slept, and all the ingenuity and sklI
that have been brought 10 bear 10 bring her bac
TO consciousn. IS have been unavailing. She has
wasted away untll she is almost phantom. She
rarely moves muscle. The sleeper gave every
body surprise Monday, however. Mrs. Burns,
who knew Mrs. Herbert before her cataleDsy, oc-
cupies the same Ward with her, and Monday was
LETT alone for time with the sleeper. Sister Bar
| bara, hearing an alarm from that ward, fastened
| thlthef, and found ars Burns crouched upon the
floor, crossing herself vigorously and IN state of
great excitement. When questioned she told the
| following story VI her experience with Mrs. Her.
| bert:
Lord help me- but thought I'd have Mt when
1 i Sll IA
me wild all her might, Is II she'd look hole
| through me body. When she seen how bad was
scared she set up a laughin' and thin, before
could get word In edgeways she begin 10 rattle
away about her neghbors as fast a morse could
trot. The sound or her voice was 80 sharp that IL
| give a pain Ia me ears, and shook me hand At
her by way OF bddin' her stop her clatJer hut she
KEEP right on, lex she was wound up fur "A month
| Al last she stopped long enough 10 take her
| breath, when aNed why IL was she didn't speak
TO her children whin they came To See her tother
day. Wud ye believe IL? The minute put that
TO her She snapped her eyes shut lex two traps
and her jaws wint together like bang. Diyil the
word more could get out of her, 10 called TO
Sister Barbara aud uo@ld her Just what I'm tella
ye now. J. haven't got over The might It's given
Yet, and II II wasn't that have the rlleumatics
SO bad ia me legs Id hev been out OF the The
moment she opened her eyes,
Dr. Ward Tie physician VINO has attended Mrs
Herbert closely had similar pcrfence with Ter
about two months ago. she had then been asleep
three months. one day lac observed that the pose
OF the wolnan's head Indicated that she had D.en
leaning forward and had quickly Strengthened IL
UP he entered the room. lier hands eN-
lutlt cOlu, auu Her utep purptc. Tier lace
was a. pal1 death. The doctor told her 10
sand up. She did not move until he touched her
Shoulder, when she Immediately stood up re-
quested, her arms hanging iifeleSs at her sides
The doctor then had a small fo0tstoo placed In
her path. and then said:
Now, Mrs. Herbert, we will take our morning
walk"
'It may have been Imagination" said the doc
tor, ''bat Thought SAW the suggestion OF u smile
play about the corners OF her mouth as / spoke TO
her. However. holding her hand In mine, / led he
way TO the center or the room, where Sister Bar
bara had placed the footstoOl, ana We neared 10
Cuiclenet the pace somewhat, and Mrs. Herbert
tTfpped over IL and would certainly have fallen
had not been there 10 catch her. As she straight
ened herself up she opened her eyes for moment
only and then burst out laughing. IL seemed TO
be a hysterical laugh but she was 1t In mv-
ment and she became apparently as insensible as
ever TO any physical emotion from that day untu
length TO Mrs. Burns IL is certain that she L. now
as last asleep as ever, and IL Is grave question
whether her next awakening, should the interreg-
mum VI apathy be extended 10 the same period as
has been noted In the past, VIII not be Ia another
world"
Mrs. Herbert receives only about enough food
daily 10 sustain life In bird, The doctors say, and
II is their opinion that she cannot long i've IN hef
present condition.
Tip for the supersIitious.
From the New York Times
'Tll give you a tip" said j. T. Donneily, formerly
of m tsysap Yesterday. a